It seems that people are starting to get the idea that this is serious. Yes it is. One of the measures you need to look at is the number of deaths per million population. At the moment the situation in Italy is looking bad – but the BEST case in the UK is predicted to be three times worse. That isn’t because the government are doing things wrong – that is assuming the government are doing things right.
You know that feeling you have as an air passenger – the one where you are helpless at the hands of that pilot? Well that is where we are. So when you feel that fear on the aircraft how do you deal with it? Do you scream “This pilot is crazy, he’s going to kill all of us.”? Do you get together with your fellow passengers and break down the cockpit door and take over the flying?
I remember one of my first flights. I had an ex-navy officer on my left and an ex-RAF officer on my right – and they enjoyed talking to each other about the air accidents they had personally been involved with. I think they could see my fingers digging in to the arms of the seat. But I was on the flight, and really that was my only option – find something to help me mange fear.
Today the newspapers are that Navy guy and the TV news is the RAF guy. Unfortunately we can’t tune them out – we need to know what is going on. But we need to accept we are on this flight and whatever happens we are pretty much along for the ride. Screaming the words of the fear-mongers will only create a panic – it will not change our flight safety. And as for breaking down the cockpit door and taking over – how many of us really know how to fly this country? That is almost a guaranteed way to have the worst outcome (sorry to all those revolutionary and anarchist friends out there – this is not your time).
I know when I said “If we die we die, if we live we live” on the Nicaragua trip my fellow travelers thought I was being a bit pessimistic, but pretty much that is how it is. This is a dice roll. However the good news is that we can weight the dice. So if you want to have the best chances of dying go out, get close to people, ignore the restrictions – your choice.
Personally I am weighting the other side of the dice – my door is closed.
That is unless I spot somebody dropping a toilet roll as they unload their car.